The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1887-03-02
THE POSSIBILITIES OF PIED
V MONT CAROLINA.

upon WnaL does tne IuCuIe ueFei-
opment of Piedmont Carolina def
pend? We w upon diversi-
fed farming and diversified indus
tries. 1t will not, it cannot longer
remain undeveloped. The restless,
searching, progressive spirit Of the
age will search it out. Its magnifi-
cent water powers, sufficient to turn
the combined spindlesHf New and
Old EngIand-its vastforests of fine
timbers, it's rich and abundant de-
posts of valuable minerals and stone,
the varied capabilities of it's fruitful
soils, it's fine water and healthtul
climate, all combine to mark it out
as the seat for a grand centre of in
dustry, thrift and prosperity.
It's hill-tops should be wreathed in
the smoke of furnaces, mills and
foundries-its plains be made vocal
with the inspiriting music Of looms
and spindles. The ex~hilarating din OF
factories, workshops, and machine
shops should dispel the silence Of
the wilderness, and the grand chorus
of a thousand steam whistles should
energize, quicken and fire it's now
s%lumbering strength. Then we could
have money because our boys and
girls and women who are now con-
sumers would find constant, honor
able and remunerative employment
and would thus become self-support-
ing, because it would give our farm
ers ready and convenient markets
for all their various products, because
it would bring to light our now hid
den and Improbable treasures and
convert them into available cash
1t would stimulate, encourage and
necessitate diversified farming,f the
only safe policy for our farmers. Farm
lands now worth from five totem dol
lars per acre would be INCREASED in
value ten fold. When and how can
this be done? 1t can be done when
we shall make up our minds to have
more and better railroad facilities
for transportation, when we shall in
vite and encourage capital to come
and invest in these various enter
prises. Suppose that along the two
lines of Rail Road, now in contem-
platiOn if constructed and put into
operation-one from Winston-Salem
to Mocksville and the other to
Wilkesboro, there should spring up
fifty or Il hundred manufacturing
villages-suppose we could have in
the territory tributary to these lines
a thousand Frieses, Heges, MiIlers,
Fogles, Nissens and Spachs, who
a estimate the wonderful change
that would surely make it the most
thrifty and prosperous section of the
whole South, if not of the whole
country. But we would specially
encourage and foster small indus
tries. W. would rejoice to. see mills,
foundries, factories, &c. on a grand
scale, but with them we want hun
dreds of enterprises for the manu-
facture Of the thousands of articles,
which are in constant demand, and
in which men could embark who are
not capitalists. Would you know
what they are? Come to Winston
and go through any of our large
Hardware or General Supply Stores,
and you will find the answer.
The most striking example, per-
haps, in all history Of the solidity of
a nations strength which is based
on the industries of it's people, was
grandly illustrated by the govern
ment of France when it's proud
standards went down in humiliation
and defeat at Sedan, 1870. Germany,
the conqueror, imposed an indemnify
Of ten hundred millions of dollars,
to be paid cash, in coin. France
called on her people to come to the
rescue, and they responded prompt
ly and protfered the s%tupendous
amount thirteen times ouer. All her
people r employed-her farms are
small and cultivated like gardens,
and the thousands of manufacturing
villages give them a ready market,
and her people r producers of
wealth. Let the manufacturers,
bankers, merchants, capitalists, far
mers and landowners of Piedmont
Carolina, ponder these things. Give
us railroads and with them let our
fertile, and beautiful plains be dot
ted with enterprising, thrifty, man.
ufacturing villages and towns. AS
a natural and necessary effect, i'm
proved and diversified farming would
keep pace with the advance, and
men and women arc now walking